Leyte (CVA 32) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN PAUL L. DUDLEY UNITED STATES NAVY THIS BOOK is respectfully dedicated to Captain Paul L. Dudley, United States Navyg and in a small way it rellects the inspired leadership of his command aboard the U.S.S. LEYTE. His concern for the morale contributed much to the happiness of the crew. The pages of this book endeavor to portray for you in permanent form the unfolding of this Cruise in all its exciting aspects. 6 ,....y......

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Gibraltar ............ Executive Department Operations Department Navigation Department Augusta . . .' 4...... . . . Air Department . . . Genoa .4....... Milan ............ Air Group Three .... Detachments ...... Naples .... Capri .... Pompeii . . . Sorrento . . . . . . . Rome ............... Gunnery Department . Cannes ............. Monte Carlo . . . Grasse . . . I Nice ........... Maritime Alps . . . Paris .............. . Encore Cafe ........ V. . . Engineering Department La Spezia . .I ......... . . Switzerland . . .S Pisa ........ . Florence .......... Supply Department . . . Athens ....,......... Medical Department . Izmir ....,.......... Dental Department . . . Athletics .......... Algiers .......... Spain . . .

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.3?!Kff1amk1Nf57 -fa - - .fm-4.fZ'f ' ' 15 al., a ,f f if ef le af ' - M mf mmf .. 2:z..:4.,...., CAPTAIN DUDLEY was born onNovember 11, 1904 in Hugo, Oklahoma, and attended schools in that city. He was graduated from the United States Naval Academy with the class of 1926. His first tour of duty was aboard the U.S.S. Arctic. He then served aboard the destroyers Summer and Corry. In 1930 he was designated a Naval Aviator and served with squadrons VT-1 and VB-1 aboard the U.S.S. Lex- ington. In 1933 he was ordered to NAS San Diego, where he served as test pilot for a year, following which, he went to the Stearman Division of the Boeing Aircraft Corporation, Wichita, Kansas, where he was Inspector of Naval Aircraft. He next spent two years aboard the battleships New Mexico and Maryland, serving on the latter as Senior Naval Aviator. Captain Dudley was then ordered to the Experimental Division, Norfolk, Virginia, and later com- manded the Aviation Seaplane Tender U.S.S. Sandpiper. In 1940 he became Executive Officer, and later Corn- manding Officer of Training Squadron Two, and Oflicer- in-Charge of Ellyson Field, Pensacola, Florida. In the summer of 1942 he reported to the U.S.S. Altamaha as Air Ofiicer and -later became Executive Officer of that ship. He then went to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Assistant Director of Aviation Training. Detached in February 1945, Captain Dudley was then given command of the escort carrier U.S.S. Card, which remained in the Atlantic on anti-submarine duty until May, when the war in Europe was over. It then reported to the Pacific, returning to the United States in February 1946. The Naval AirStation at Port Lyautey, French Mor- occo was Captain Dudley's next command, where he was, in addition, Commander of the Fleet Air Detach- ment, EasternyAtlantic and Mediterranean. In July 1948 he returned to the Office of the chief of Naval Operations, where he served as director of Progress and Review Division under the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air. His last duty before reporting to the U.S.S. Leyte was as Aide to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air. Captain Dudley is married to the former Miss Polly Van Patten of Seattle, Washington, and has three chil- dren, Paul L. Jr., Polly Ann and William Martin. His son, Paul L. Jr., is now a midshipman, a member of the Class of 1953, at the United States Naval Academy.